Top 12 mobile games of the week May 2017

Sometimes, the theme for our weekly list of the most promising new mobile games practically writes itself. In this case, it’s because one of the entries stars American icon Chuck Norris.

The fact that there’s a brand new Chuck Norris game out there raises so many questions. Why was there not a Chuck Norris game before? If it’s not that good, has Chuck already visited the developers and administered roundhouse kicks to all of them? Is it even possible for there to be a bad Chuck Norris game, or would he simply not allow it?

Top 12 mobile games of the week May 2017

1.Trailer Park Boys: Greasy Money

Genre:Arcade Developer:Eastside Games

If you aren’t familiar with the Trailer Park Boys franchise, it might be due to the fact that you’re not Canadian. If you were, you’d already know all about Sunnyvale and the misadventures of Ricky, Julian, Bubbles and the gang. In Greasy Money, you’ll actually get to run Sunnyvale in all its glory for yourself. Unlock more than 30 characters, collect liquors (appropriately) and cards to upgrade your buildings and get other people to work for you if you’re not feeling up to it. Which knowing these guys, will probably be often.

2.Nonstop Chuck Norris

Genre:Arcade Developer:flaregames

Why Nonstop Chuck Norris isn’t the first game on our list, I don’t know, but that’s something that’s going to have to be resolved between my editor and Mr. Norris. Since this is by flaregames, the same studio that brought us Nonstop Knight, it’s a safe bet you already know what you’re getting, which is Chuck handing out much deserved beatings to tons of bad guys. Help him by collecting weapons and meme-inspired pet sidekicks, plus learn even more about the internet god himself. We’re sold.

3.CATS: Crash Arena Turbo Stars

Genre:Stretegy Developer:ZeptoLab UK Limited

It’s always fun when any mobile games developer drops something on you that’s different from what you’d expect from them, and that’s definitely the case here. ZeptoLab is best known for titles like Cut the Rope and King of Thieves, but CATS is an action-packed PvP affair that features customizable robots duking it out. Also, they’re driven by cats. Even Chuck Norris would have to admit there’s not much that sounds anything less than awesome about this premise.

4.Invert

Genre:Puzzle Developer:Noodlecake Studios Inc

I’m told that the ever cyclical Rubik’s Cube is back in vogue right now, meaning that Invert should find a ready audience. It even references Rubik’s Cube in its App Store write-up, so that’s not a comparison I dreamed up on my own. Flip tiles to make all of them the same color in as few moves as possible, then do it again through 20 different levels and multiple game modes. The developer claims the expert mode is a lot harder than the first two, which sounds like a challenge if I’ve ever heard one.

5.Evergrow: Paper Forest

Genre:Arcade Developer:FredBear Games LTD

Who says kids don’t have imaginations these days? Well, almost any parent at some time, but probably not the people who gave birth to the kid whose room is featured in this game. See, this gorgeous puzzle game is set in a child’s room, with a board game-like series of tiles that need to be filled with grass that the characters apparently made themselves. Out of paper. Hence the name, or so we assume. In any case, the combination of gameplay, visuals and story looks like a real winner.

6.Vignettes

Genre:Puzzle Developer:Armel Jestin

This sounds like it should be an artsy series of short films or something. Instead, it’s a “casual but unique exploration game” that backs up that second part by featuring no text or characters. Wait, really? You simply tap to interact with objects in a trippy, multicolored environment, collect items and unlock secrets. Seems like it could be weird in a good way.

7.Office Space: Idle Profits

Genre:Arcade Developer:Kongregate

It’s not quite as puzzling that there hasn’t been an Office Space game as it is about the lack of Chuck Norris titles, but if you’re of the appropriate age range to remember and appreciate the cult classic comedy, this is a game you’re going to want to check out. You can’t let the Bobs win, so you’ll need to help Peter, Samir and Michael Bolton (not that Michael Bolton, though we do celebrate the man’s entire catalog) outsmart Lumbergh. Also, there’s something fitting about Office Space and the idle genre being together. It just feels right.

8.Get Me Outta Here

Genre:Startegy Developer:Crescent Moon Games

So you’ve been kidnapped by aliens, and are left with nothing but your boxers and a hospital gown. You’re not just going to sit back and let them probe you, right? heck no, you’re going to grab one of their own weapons and give them what for, blasting your way through tons of gloriously retro enemies. One of them is apparently your own cow, weaponized and turned against you. Monsters! Chuck Norris wouldn’t stand for this, and neither should you. Get to blasting.

9.Bomb Hunters

Genre:Strategy Developer:Craneballs s.r.o

Take Crossy Road-esque gameplay, make the visuals a bit more modern and then add in some light RPG elements and you’ve got the gist of what Bomb Hunters is all about. You play as a bomb disposal expert, making all of those “red wire or blue wire” decisions you’ve seen in every action movie ever. Alas, just getting to the bombs is also tricky here, considering there’s traffic to dodge and enemies guarding some of the explosives. Ten different characters and five different environments means the bomb disposal fun (said in context) never has to end.

10.Father and Son

Genre:Puzzle Developer:TuoMuseo

Some games are hard to describe but still look fascinating. Father and Son is one of those, jumping between the past and present to tell the story of a young man who never knew his father. Part of it is set during the final hours of Pompei, and it’s published by the Archaeological Museum of Naples, which only makes it more intriguing. Dig that art style too.

11.Ms. Spell

Genre:Arcade Developer:Jason Pickering

Ms. Spell doesn’t look like it revolutionizes mobile games are anything, but it does contain a number of our favorite things all in one package. Turn-based RPG battles? Check. Lovely retro graphics? Check. Randomly generated levels to assure replay value? Check there as well. Maybe a little simplistic, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

12. Happy Racing

Genre:Racing Developer:Chill Fleet

Are you getting tired of hearing about the best potential new mobile games this week? Chuck Norris would be shaking his head in disgust right now at your lack of determination. Anyway, we’re almost done. Happy Racing is the latest rag-doll physics game, with situations that look like they will leave the various characters anything but happy. The developers promise “TONS of levels,” updated each month, as well as “SHEER MADNESS that you have never seen before!” And you can’t argue with the kind of enthusiasm that only plenty of capital letters and exclamation points can provide.